CONTACT INFORMATION

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8am to 5pm. All official State and Federal holidays are observed.

Our office is located at 406 East Second Street, Carson City, NV 89701

Office Phone: 775-684-8619

Office Fax: 775-684-8626

To book a meeting with our Executive Director, Catherine Nielsen, please use the Book with Me!

Se Habla Español: Rebecca Ortiz @ rortiz@dhhs.nv.gov

For all inquiries contact our Executive Assistant, Rebecca Ortiz, rortiz@dhhs.nv.gov. All emails will be routed as appropriate.

Council Staff

Full staff photo with 6 woman. 4 are standing and 2 are sitting in front of those 4. Photo was taken in doors in front of the Council office, individual descriptions are with staff photos below.
Top row (left to right): Kimberly Palma-Ortega – Public Health Liaison, Rebecca Ortiz – Executive Assistant, Ellen Marquez – Self-Advocacy Coordinator, Marisol Rivas – Projects Manager
Bottom row (left to right): Alysa Marquez – Intern, Catherine Nielsen – Executive Director
Photo of Council Staff, Catherine Nielsen, Executive Director, navy blue blazer and with mountains in the background

Catherine Nielsen, Executive Director

Catherine is a person with an I/DD who was born and raised in Northern Nevada. Catherine has been with the Council since 2016, having previously been the Self-Advocacy Coordinator and the Projects Manager. She became the Executive Director in October 2021. She has her Masters in Public Administration and has served in the disability community for over a decade. She is now a PhD candidate for her Doctoral Degree in Philosophy in Human Service.

Catherine enjoys working with policymakers to ensure the voices of those with I/DD in the State of Nevada are always heard. She is a proud wife of a Nevada Army National Guard Veteran, who has severe Epilepsy. They share 3 daughters, one with disabilities, and enjoy spending their time exploring all that Nevada has to offer! If you don’t find her working, she is likely hanging out with her family and pets!

To book a meeting with our Executive Director, Catherine Nielsen, please use the Book with Me!

Photo of woman with shoulder length grey hair, black shirt with a yellow trim and gold necklace. She has an NGCDD pin located on her front right. Background is a tree like setting.

Ellen Marquez, Self-Advocacy Coordinator

Ellen is a proud mother of an adult daughter with Down Syndrome and has lived in Gardnerville, Nevada for 25 years. She earned her Associates Degree in Deaf Studies and has a passion for teaching in the disability community. Before joining the Council in 2017 as the Executive Assistant, Ellen worked for the Nevada IDEA Part C Office.

Ellen used her personal experience and gained further knowledge about the disability community which provided her the opportunity to transition into her current role as the Self-Advocacy Coordinator in 2022. She has now served the disability community for nearly a decade. Ellen enjoys spending time with her family, going to the Ace’s Baseball games, traveling areas of Nevada, and supporting the Special Olympics of Carson City.

Hispanic woman with shoulder length curly hair. She is wearing a black blouse with golden chains printed on the sleeves. She is wearing bright red lipstick. She has an NGCDD pin located on her front left Background is a tree like setting.

Marisol Rivas, Projects Manager

Marisol is a mother of 3 and has lived in and worked for the State of Nevada for over 15 years. Most of Marisol’s professional experience comes from her time with the State and has worked for various departments and divisions. She started with the Council as the Self-Advocacy Coordinator in 2018 before moving into her current position in 2021. During her time with the Council she has grown to understand and value the I/DD community, as well as advocating for those within the I/DD community. Marisol is currently the Projects Manager for the Council and is responsible for overseeing the Council grants, projects, and activities.

White woman with half white, half black hair just past her shoulders. She is wearing black rimmed glasses with a black blazer and white blouse. She has an NGCDD pin located on her front left. Background is a tree like setting.

Kimberly Palma-Ortega, Public Health Liaison

Kimberly is a proud mother of 5, two of which have various I/DDs among other complex medical conditions. She has been a part of the dis-ABILITIES community over the last 23 years in both her personal and professional life; having served on many boards, councils, and commissions across the areas of disabilities, education, and child welfare. Her investment to this community can be seen throughout the advocating efforts across multiple platforms on behalf of individuals over their lifespan for related services, educational needs, and overall community involvement. She feels that she has gained new perspectives on how things move work on both sides of the aisle but that her greatest accomplishments are from the friendships that have turned into extended family.

Kimberly is in the process of earning her BA in Criminal Justice and loves research into medicine and criminal justice, on how it relates to the disability community. In addition to her professional life, she also enjoys reading, baseball, and spending time with her family.

Let it be known that her and Wonder Woman have never been seen in the same room at once.

Hispanic woman with brown hair past her shoulders with a slight curl. She is wearing a shirt with flowers Background is a tree like setting.

Rebecca (Becky) Ortiz, Executive Assistant

Becky was born and raised in Nevada and loves all things this great state has to offer! When she’s not working, she can be found trying out new restaurants and exploring new walking spots with her two pups, Bella and Milah. She also has many family members in the area that love a reason to celebrate!

Becky has earned her Associates in Liberal Arts and General Studies from Western Nevada College.

Hispanic woman with shoulder length brown hair and curls. She is wearing a black shirt with blue and pink flowers. She has an NGCDD pin located on her front right. Background is a tree like setting.

Alysa Marquez, Intern

Alysa is a native Nevadan, raised in Gardnerville. She graduated from Douglas High School in 2021 with the Alternative Diploma. Alysa is now attending Western Nevada College (WNC) where she is taking American Sign Language and pursuing an Associate Degree in General Studies.

She is a great self-advocate navigating the WNC campus and making new friends. Alysa is excited to be part of the staff for the NGCDD. She looks forward to meeting all the Council Members and the community to show people with disabilities are a vital part of the work force in Nevada.